Years ago I wrote a post on site I run talking about the riot vs pogrom, or why America has riots not pogroms like other countries. I have always come down on the side of the argument that access to long arms is not only a deterrent in the actual conflict, but our American culture of competence with firearms makes a big difference. Pogroms often occur when authorities actively encourage and arm one side of a conflict. Even if authorities do that here we wouldn’t see the same disparity of force you see in other countries.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for the possibility however.
Photographer Oleg Volk made some interesting observations in an old blog post he wrote about this subject:
From the 1992 LA riots, we know that at least some criminals kept up attacks despite being fired upon with pistols. Being able to observe their victims and overwhelm them with numbers apparently made up for the risk of getting shot. We also know that rifle fire from extended ranges, especially with the shooter being invisible, cause instant retreat. In 1992, people were willing to fire at extended ranges due to the absence of authorities — 50 yards is not a typical self-defense range and most people are conditioned not to fire until backed into a corner and almost at contact distance. Lawful people are also conditioned to perceive individuals rather than groups or mobs as threats, so most would not fire into a hostile group. Putting buckshot with “to whom this may be addressed” dispersion into a group can be very effective but goes counter to the peacetime conditioning. The number of conversations with 911 dispatchers where people in dire and immediate danger keep asking for permission to fire suggests that the main factor preventing massive casualties to rioters is the lack of the will, not the lack of firepower. That will is notably bolstered whenever a riot affects residential areas rather than business districts. A store may be abandoned, but a home with a family within is likely to be defended to the last.
You may want to consider the effectiveness of pistols in deterring rioters while looking into firearm purchases, but more importantly you may look into how people keep riots from turning into pogroms or CHAZ type situations. it should be noted Volk wrote this around 2009.
Most of us luckily have never and hopefully will never experience riots as bad as the LA Riots, Ferguson etc, so I am posting some videos of the riots that exclude the most disturbing violence. This is done to impress upon you how chaotic these situations are once police are overwhelmed.
Pay close attention of the behavior of the crowds. You might be in situations like this so start looking at the dynamics of mob violence.
First is some videos of looting during BLM protests:
Looters targeting high end retail during the George Floyd protests:
Looters in NYC attacking Guardian Angels while looting stores:
An hour+ collection of scenes from a week of rioting in 2020. Notice how the crowds have large contingents of thrill seekers having “fun”:
Looting in Santa Monica:
2020 video reporting on the Seattle riots. Notice how easily the police can be made ineffective:
Finally here’s a half hour of home video footage of the LA Riots from 1992:
As food shortages and financial collapse increase riots will become common. You need to think about a plan for these scenario now.
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Author Rob Taylor
